Motor-vehicle carrying railcar with improved sidewall structure

Abstract

A sidewall structure for a motor-vehicle carrying railway car wherein at least one upper deck is supported principally by longitudinal beams that are themselves supported by end structures, without the need for large, heavy vertical posts to support the decks between the end structures. To provide a lightweight car body with sufficient strength and durability for commercial rail service, the car body may be of monocoque construction. Each sidewall preferably has a plate girder structure that employs the horizontal beams as its principal supports, with the beams tied together by sidewall panels or plates. A plurality of light stiffeners may be employed to limit flexure of the sidewalls. Each of the end structures preferably comprises an offset H frame that includes a draft sill joined to a body bolster, and inner and outer cross bearers joined to the draft sill. In the offset H frame, the draft sill slopes downward and inward, with the inner cross bearer being at a lower elevation than the outer one. Vertical posts extend upward at the ends of the cross bearers to support end portions of the longitudinal beams. The ramps may be of compound configuration, comprising a plurality of generally planar segments sloped at varying angles to provide increased bottom clearance for motor vehicle ends during loading and unloading.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A motor vehicle carrying railcar comprising a pair of upstanding sidewalls, a lower deck and at least one upper deck capable of carrying a plurality of motor vehicles in commercial rail service, 
       said railcar further comprising a pair of trucks, first and second end structures disposed over the trucks, and a central portion between said end structures,  
       said upstanding sidewalls including a pair of longitudinal beams extending along opposite sides of said at least one upper deck,  
       said upper deck having a central portion between said end structures supported principally by said sidewalls without relying on vertical posts to support the weight of the loaded decks between said end structures.  
     
     
       2. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  1  wherein said upper deck is immediately adjacent said longitudinal beams and connected directly thereto, without intermediate vertical posts. 
     
     
       3. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  1  wherein said upstanding side walls comprise plate girder structures. 
     
     
       4. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  1  wherein said pair of sidewalls are spaced from one another by at least about 9′2″ over a substantial portion of the height of the sidewalls along substantially the entire length of said central portion. 
     
     
       5. A motor vehicle carrying railway car in accordance with claim  1  wherein said central portion includes a pair of sidewalls spaced from one another by at least about 9′6″ over a substantial portion of the height of the sidewalls along the entire length of said central portion. 
     
     
       6. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  1  wherein each of said upstanding sidewalls includes a top chord and a roof rail extending along its upper end, and a side sill extending along its lower end, along substantially the entire length of said central portion. 
     
     
       7. A railcar capable of transporting a plurality of motor vehicles in commercial rail service, said railcar including a body comprising a floor, a pair of upstanding side walls, a pair of end structures, and at least one upper deck spaced above the floor of the railcar so that motor vehicles may be supported on at least two levels; 
       said upstanding side walls comprising plate girder structures including longitudinal beams supported by said end structures;  
       said at least one upper deck having a central portion supported by said longitudinal beams such that loads on said central portion are supported by said sidewalls without relying on vertical posts to support the weight of the loaded decks between said end structures.  
     
     
       8. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  7  wherein said upper deck is immediately adjacent said longitudinal beams and connected directly thereto, without intermediate vertical posts. 
     
     
       9. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  8  wherein said pair of sidewalls are spaced from one another by at least about 9′2″ over a substantial portion of the height of the sidewalls along substantially the entire length of said central portion. 
     
     
       10. A motor vehicle carrying railway car in accordance with claim  8  wherein said central portion includes a pair of sidewalls spaced from one another by at least about 9′6″ over a substantial portion of the height of the sidewalls along the entire length of said central portion. 
     
     
       11. A motor vehicle carrying railway car in accordance with claim  8  wherein said railcar body comprises a monocoque including said sidewalls. 
     
     
       12. A motor vehicle carrying monocoque railcar body comprising a pair of end structures, a pair of upstanding sidewalls, a lower deck and at least one upper deck capable of carrying a plurality of motor vehicles, wherein said sidewalls include beams extending along a substantial portion of at least one upper deck to support said at least one upper deck between said end structures without relying on vertical posts to support the weight of the loaded decks between said end structures. 
     
     
       13. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  12  wherein each of said beams is of composite construction, comprising a plurality of substantially coextensive elongated sections joined together. 
     
     
       14. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  13  wherein each of said beams includes a tubular outer section of generally rectangular cross-section, and a tubular inner section of generally trapezoidal cross-section. 
     
     
       15. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  14  wherein said upstanding sidewalls are plate girder structures. 
     
     
       16. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  15  wherein each of said upstanding sidewalls includes a top chord and a roof rail extending along its upper end, and a side sill extending along its lower end. 
     
     
       17. A motor vehicle carrying railcar body comprising a pair of upstanding sidewalls, a lower deck and at least one upper deck capable of carrying motor vehicles, wherein said sidewalls include beams extending along a substantial portion of at least one upper deck to support said at least one upper deck, wherein each of said beams is of composite construction, comprising a plurality of substantially coextensive elongated sections joined together, said sections including a tubular outer section of generally rectangular cross-section, and a tubular inner section of generally trapezoidal cross-section. 
     
     
       18. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  17  wherein said upstanding sidewalls are plate girder structures. 
     
     
       19. A motor vehicle carrying railcar in accordance with claim  18  wherein each of said upstanding sidewalls includes a top chord and a roof rail extending along its upper end, and a side sill extending along its lower end. 
     
     
       20. A motor vehicle carrying railway car in accordance with claim  19  wherein said railcar body comprises a monocoque including said sidewalls.